Morgan Stanley has agreed to buy Australia's biggest office owner Investa for A$ 4.7 bn (EUR 2.8 bn) in cash. The offer values Investa shares at A$3.08 each, a 14% premium on Wednesday's closing price. This is the latest of a series of acquisitions by the US lender aimed at strengthening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. On Wednesday, Morgan Stanley acquired a 3.4% stake in Japan's biggest developer Mitsubishi Estate, for about $1.4 bn. Last month, the US investment bank won the bidding for All Nippon Airways's 13 Japanese hotels in a $2.3 bn deal, the country's largest real estate acquisition.
Morgan Stanley has agreed to buy Australia's biggest office owner Investa for A$ 4.7 bn (EUR 2.8 bn) in cash. The offer values Investa shares at A$3.08 each, a 14% premium on Wednesday's closing price. This is the latest of a series of acquisitions by the US lender aimed at strengthening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. On Wednesday, Morgan Stanley acquired a 3.4% stake in Japan's biggest developer Mitsubishi Estate, for about $1.4 bn. Last month, the US investment bank won the bidding for All Nippon Airways's 13 Japanese hotels in a $2.3 bn deal, the country's largest real estate acquisition.
The Sidney-based group has Australia's largest listed office portfolio, which accounts for about 85% of its A$5.7 bn total assets. Investa's portfolio mainly focuses on Australia's largest cities of Sydney and Melbourne. Office vacancy rates are expected to fall in Sidney from 9.4% to 6.5% by end-2008, according to Australia & New Zealand Banking Group.
The offer for Investa will need approval by 75% of the shareholders at a meeting expected to be held in August this year.